SINCELEJO, Colombia – The USA Softball U-18 Men’s National Team (MNT) has arrived in Sincelejo, Colombia ahead of the 2023 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Pan American Championship slated to take place September 3-9. The Red, White and Blue will compete alongside top opponents in the Americas with sights set on punching a ticket to the XIV U-18 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup set to take place November 11-19, 2023.
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Competing internationally for the first time since 2020, the U-18 MNT enters the tournament as the No. 5 ranked team and will be joined by No. 1 Argentina, No. 4 Canada, No. 24 Colombia (Host), No. 28 Peru and No. 8 Venezuela. The U.S. will kick off the action on Monday, Sept. 4 with a solo matchup against Venezuela at 2 p.m. CT before taking the field for another 2 p.m. CT matchup on Sept. 5 against Peru. Continuing the competition, Team USA will face Argentina (Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. CT), Colombia (Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. CT) and Canada (Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. CT) to close out Opening Round with the Medal Round to follow on Sept. 9.
Fans can join in on the excitement all week long with free live streaming through the WBSC Americas YouTube channel. Live stats will also be provided on USASoftball.com – To stay up to date, follow the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team on GameChanger or @USASoftballJMNT on Twitter.
Competing for a chance to advance to the WBSC U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup, the No. 5 ranked Team USA will look to join No. 2 Australia, No. 3 Japan, No. 6 Czechia, No. 7 New Zealand, No. 10 Mexico (host), No. 12 Singapore and No. 17 Israel for a chance at the World Cup title later this year – a feat that would make history for the USA Softball U-18 MNT squad.
Previously announced by USA Softball, the 14-player roster representing the U.S. includes four veterans from the 2019 U-17 WBSC Americas Qualifier roster and 2020 U-18 Men’s World Championship roster, along with 10 rookies who will wear the Red, White and Blue for the first time in their careers. At the helm of the U.S. roster is Tony Aresco, marking his first stint as head coach for the U-18 Men’s National Team program after serving as an assistant coach in previous seasons. Aresco will be joined by assistant coaches Bob Piddock and Avon Meacham who each garner a stacked resume and previous experience with the Junior Men’s National Team program.
Athletes selected to the U-18 MNT are part of the USA Softball athlete pool, having attended previous softball camps and clinics, league softball events and/or attended events coordinated by USA Softball.
To learn more about the USA Softball Men’s National Team program, visit USASoftball.com.